The orphanage was established in 1919 through St Andrews’ Anglican Church and the Church of England. The home was designed to house children who were orphans, wards of the state, or had been abandoned by their parents.

The Church took a hostile defensive legal position against the group claim. The Church’s lawyers required claimants to sign a deed of release before they could receive counselling, acknowledgement, apology or financial settlement – going against the Sydney Pastoral Care and Assistance Scheme that the Diocese of Grafton had adopted one year prior.

After several arguments and counter-offers regarding financial reparations, the highest offer given was $22,658.54. However, after Medicare and Health Insurance Commissions, the claimants could have received less than half that amount.

In the following years, more survivors of child abuse at the home came forward to receive compensation. Two survivors known as CB and CC were refused financial compensation and offered a support person. A third survivor known as CD received a payment but no pastoral support.

It wasn’t until 2013 that the Anglican Church revised its handling of child abuse claims. The new acting registrar in Grafton reported the mishandling to the Anglican Church Primate – the official leader of the Anglican Church in Australia.

In May 2013, the Bishop of Grafton released a statement apologising for not giving claimants access to a Professional Standards Director and resigned. A series of apologies were also published in local newspapers and the Diocese passed a revised Care and Assistance Scheme for claimants.

Between November 2013 and January 2014, the Royal Commission heard from various former residents of the home including the group claim’s lead plaintiff, Mr Tommy Campion and various anonymous survivors like CA, CB, CD, CH, CK, CN and two others.

CK told the Commissioners about the trauma inflicted from living at the group home.

No child should ever be subjected to the kind of pain and torture these individuals experienced. Their childhood was a living hell and there was no one to help them – no friends, no family, no trustworthy carer. These individuals were cast aside and abused from day one at the North Coast Children’s Home in Lismore NSW.

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